Falling Star Islet

Falling Star Islet

Falling Star Islet

Falling Star Islet, located by the water’s edge three li south of Xingzi County in Poyang Lake, is a small rocky island about several zhang in height, spanning roughly a hundred paces in circumference, with a total area of no more than 1,800 square meters. Shaped like a star, at first glance it appears to float on the water’s surface and is said to be the petrified remains of a fallen star.

The Song Dynasty scholar Jiang Zhiqui described it with the verse: “Today’s stone in the lake, once a star in the sky.” Legend has it that during the Five Dynasties period, an emperor bestowed upon it the title “Gem Mountain” and even funded the construction of the “Fuxing Long’an Monastery” atop the islet.

After the Song Dynasty, it was maintained by successive dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty, pavilions and towers such as Fuyu Tower, Yujing Pavilion, Gangyi Pavilion, and Qinghui Pavilion were added. Though much has been lost to the vicissitudes of time, the remaining structures are still overgrown with bamboo and trees, retaining an elegant and serene beauty. Standing on the islet, you can gaze into the distance at Mount Lu, its majestic form veiled in light mist, or look closer at the lake, where the blue waves merge seamlessly with the sky.

Jiang Zhiqui (1031–1104), styled Yingshu (also recorded as Yingshu), was a native of Yixing, Changzhou (now part of Jiangsu Province) in the Northern Song Dynasty. In 1057, he passed the imperial examination in the “Spring and Autumn Three Commentaries” category and earned his jinshi degree. He served as a Grand Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, later passing the “Virtuous and Upright” examination and rising to the position of Censorate Investigator. When Emperor Shenzong of Song ascended the throne, he was transferred to become a Palace Attendant Censor. However, due to believing slander—particularly about Ouyang Xiu—he was falsely accused and demoted to supervise liquor taxes in Daozhou.

During Wang Anshi’s New Policies movement, Jiang Zhiqui was serving as the Transport Commissioner of Fujian. At the time, the implementation of the Exemption-from-Labor Law across various regions was chaotic, but Jiang managed it with great orderliness. And… Jiang Zhiqui detailed information++